And the Nobel Peace Prize Goes To....

In a year that has seen the worst use of chemical weapons in decades, the Nobel Peace Prize goes to the group responsible for, um, eliminating chemical weapons.

Giving these guys a prize is like giving the GOP the prize for The Best US Political Party in 2012.

A lot of people thought it should have gone to a young girl from Afghanistan.

In order to make political points, thumbing their nose at rational and reasonable critics of the committee’s decisions over the past half-decade, the prize committee passed over Malala Yousafzai. At only 16, Yousafzai has become a symbol for women around the world living under regimes and in cultures that repress young women like her. After being shot in the head by Taliban rebels, Malala survived and now preaches peace. By surviving, she has won. By forgiving her attackers, she has shown magnanimity. Yousafzai is a truly special person.

Her very existence demonstrates the impotence of the forces of regression and oppression. But her survival and commitment to the cause of self-determination is also a testament to the beneficence of American military strength. She was attacked by the remnants of a regime toppled by the United States and its NATO allies under President George W. Bush – a regime which, if it were still in place, would have robbed the world of Yousafzai’s light. To elevate her to prominence is to tacitly endorse the war in Afghanistan. To acknowledge her accomplishments is to confirm that war yields victories which benefit humanity. This cannot be.

I'm not sure I agree with that.

In recent years the Peace Prize has become not only aspirational in nature but moved away from the original concept of creating and maintaining actual peace. As Alfred Nobel's will states the Prize should be awarded to a person who, "shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

For better or worse, one man clearly stood out when it came to actually stopping a war between nations this year.

Putin wuz robbed!

posted by DrewM. at 11:41 AM

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